And it’s all populated by some surprisingly realistic humans that interact with each other in interesting ways. There’s always ambient dialogue going on, making Columbia feel like a place that lives and breathes whether you’re there to see it happen or not. I’d almost compare it to Skyrim, though with the silliness meter cranked down to just about zero.

Of course, I do have to point out that some of the textures in this game are pretty low-resolution when you get up close. In fact, surprisingly so. I played the game on Xbox 360, so it’s possible that PC gamers can ignore this complaint, but it’s far worse than I’d expected from a game that’s launching so close to the end of this console cycle.

Then again, the backgrounds are so insanely complex and detailed, with massive chunks of land that float through the sky and move around independently, that corners probably had to be cut somewhere so that our consoles didn’t simply buckle under the weight of all this stuff happening at once. And I’ll gladly take some pixilated textures over a small draw distance, which could have completely destroyed the entire feel of this painstakingly crafted environment.

If you like video games at all, you simply shouldn’t miss BioShock Infinite. This is the game we’ll be sharing fond memories of—and discussing the politics and philosophies of—well into the next console generation. Don’t be left out of the conversation.

ByJosh Wirtanen
Editor / Social Media
Date: March 26, 2013

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.5

GraphicsOne of the most beautiful environments we’ve ever seen, hindered a bit by some unexpectedly low-res textures in places.

4.5

ControlNot perfect, but the gunplay feels like a vast improvement over the original BioShock

5.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice ActingSimply amazing. From the absurdly talented voice actors to the so-happy-it’s-actually-creepy music selection to set the mood, this game sounds fantastic from start to finish.

5.0

Play ValueOne of the best video game storylines in recent memory, coupled with an absolutely unforgettable environment you won’t want to ever leave. Though the game doesn’t actually give you any real incentive to return for a second playthrough, you’ll want to do so anyway because the experience is just so damn good.

5.0

Overall Rating - The BestNot an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend

0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid

2.5 - 2.9 = Average

3.5 - 3.9 = Good

4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy

2.0 - 2.4 = Poor

3.0 - 3.4 = Fair

4.0 - 4.4 = Great

5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

The City in the Sky - Leave the depths of Rapture to soar among the clouds of Columbia. The flying city is a beautiful and vibrant world that holds a very dark secret.

Unlikely Mission - Set in 1912, former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt must rescue a mysterious girl from the sky-city of Columbia or never leave it alive.

Tear Through Time - Open Tears in time and space to shape the battlefield and turn the tide in combat by pulling weapons and other resources out of thin air.

Vigorous Powers - Throw explosive fireballs and shoot lightning as devastatingly powerful Vigors surge through your body to be unleashed against all that oppose you.

1999 Mode - Open your own Tear to 1999 to experience the design and balance that hardcore gamers enjoyed back in the 20th century.